Sheet-feeding device



Dec. 9, 1930.3 c. E. cHRisToPHEL SHEETYFEEDING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 14, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 9, 1930. c. E. cHmsToPHl-:IL

I SHEET FEEDING DEVICE original Filed Aug. 14. 1924 e'snee'is-sheei 2 Dec. 9, 1930. E c. E; cHRlsToPl-IEL SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 6 sheets-sheet 5 Original. Filed Aug. 14, 1924 l l mr'munnf Dem 9, 1930 c. E. cHRlsToPHEL. l,784,335

' l SHEET-FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 14, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 9, 1930. c. E. cHRls'ToPHEL 1,784,335'

v SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed Aug.. 14, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Z014 ad 752 D 2 I Q12/ A WW I .l L M i y A TTORNEYS y pacata oaiv 9, 1930 1 tmf-'rrp STATES PATENTv lourlet'. 'f

Om E. CHRSTOPHEL, DECEASED, LATE OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, BY TEE FIRST NATIONAL BANK AND TRUSTv COMPANY OEPEABL RIVER, NEW YORK, EXECUTOR; SAID CHRISTOPHEL ASSIGNOR TO DEXTER FOLDER'COEPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION F NEW YORK SHEET-Famine DEVICE Original application iiied August '14, 1924, Serial No. 732,046, and in Great Britain August 10, 1925. Divided and this application filed January 3,:1927, Serial No. 158,770. Renewed May 21, 1930.

The present invention is an improvementin feeders particularly adapted for use in association with printing presses, but adapted for use in any association where such a device is desirable.

One of the objects of this invention is to accurately maintain the top of the sheet pile at a predetermined height and to eiect this by a simplified, durable and efficient mechanism. Heretofore this mechanism has embodied a. plurality of independently operated rotating cams subject to -independent adjustment. One of these cams was for the purpose of operating5 the elevator ratchet and the vision of a simplified construction in which A other was for thepurpose of elevating the governor roller in timed relation with the feeding mechanism of the forwarder. The present object has been obtained by the prothe first mentioned cam has been retained and the caml'for elevating the governor roller dur-` ing .the sheet feeding movement has been con- Y nectedvto the control element, so that in the movement of the latter, whenthe pile is to be elevated, the governor roller will be automatically raised to avoid 'interference wlth 'the proper orwardingof the sheet by the forwarding mechanism.

,Another object of this invention is to provr'de a pile elevating mechanism which may be manually and automatically elevated and lowered, and which may be manually operated in an expeditious manner without any preliminary disconnection or rearrangement of any of the parts. Heretofore, in order to lower the pile support manually, it has been necessary to disconnect and readjust various parts of the pile elevating mechanism, which was'objectionable in the time necessarily consumed for this work, and also because of the complicated mechanism 'necessarily employed. The present object has been attained in one aspect by the provision of a two-part Y shaft which, in the automatic operation, functions as a single unitary shaft but which, when the' support is tobe lowered manually or otherwise, is operated so that the part that turns the (driving mechanism is automatically disconnected from the part that carries the ratchet, which latter engaged by the feedparent as this description proceeds, and. in

order to more clearly understand the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating one-embodiment of the inventive idea, and wherein- Fig. A1 is a side view of a printing press of the dat-bed variety with which is associated a feeder embodying the present invention;

Fig: 2 is a detail of means for locking the feeder frame to the press;

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewwith some of the parts separated and others omitted, illustratin the driving connections from the interme iate press-gear to the front and rear end of the feeder;

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the drive from the intermediate press gear to the power distributing point at the pivot about which the feeder swings, the .clutch on the cam shaft loeing shown in dotted lines;

Figs. 5 and 6 are details ofthe clutch as shown inV dotted lines in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of sheet forwarding mechanism and the means for operating the same;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the automatic pile governor control;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the pile support, together with means for elevating and lowering the pile Fig. 10 is a sectional detail showing the two members of a pile elevatingclutch disconnected, and a separable two-part shaft;

Fig. 11 is a detail showing a pin and cam slot connection for disconnecting the two parts of the clutch shown in Fig. 10; and

' Fig. l2 is adetail of a pile control guide.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, it is pointed out that the present application is a division of copending application Serial No. 732,046, filed August 14, 1924, and that the invention is shown, for the purposes of illustration, in association with a printing press of the well` known flat-bed type. The feeder is, however, adapted for varigus other uses and purposes.

and 55, which latter are carried by the member 51 and connected to the member 53. The

lowest transverse member 51 has a bracket 56 connected thereto in which is mounted a roller 57 that rides yon a track 58 projecting from the rear frameof the press. The feeder is thus swung about the stationary vertical shaft with little effort, from its osition 1n association with thepress -to a position as remote from the same as-desired, so'that easy access is had to the rear of the press for placing the forms on the bed of the lpress or for making corrections and alteratlons to the form. The feeder frame is so constructed and arranged that it will stand at any desired place along the track to which it may be moved', but means are :provided for locking thefeeder in association with the press when press, the recesses'62 and 63 are brought into sheets are to be automatically fed 4from the pileto the impression cylinder.

This locking mechanism (see Fig. 2) consistsv generally of a recessed casting 59 secured to one of the Aside frames of the press, which casting has associated therewith a sleeve 60 adaptedto be rotated b a hand piece 61 and which sleeve-is provi ed with a recess 62 that is adapted to register with a recess 63 in the casting. When it is desired to lock the register and the feeder is swung into position in association with the press so that one end of the stay shaft 52 will pass into said registered openings. Sleeve 60 is then rotated to bring opening 62 out of register with opening 63 in the casting 59 so that an imperforate part ofthe sleeve 60 opposes the removal of the shaft 52 from the casting.

Feeder drive: Figs. 1, 3, 5,6 and 8 The various parts of the sheetsen'gaging, feeding and control mechanisms are preferably'drivenfrom the, press or other device to be fed, and as herein illustrated, the drive of the various` parts of the feeder is effected from the vintermediate gear 64 which is driven from any suitable source of power 65 by a belt .66, and a pulley 67 which is mounted on a 'shaft 68 carrying a pinion 69 that meshes with ,and drives said intermediate gear 64. This intermediate gear 64 meshes with and drives the cylinder gear 70 mounted on a shaft 71 on dwhich the impression cylinder 72 is carr1e The drive of the feeder is effected through gear 7 3 that meshes with the intermediate gear 64. Gear 7 3 has compounded therewith a bevel gear 74 that meshes with a bevel ear 7 5 mounted on one end of a shaft 76 provided with two universal connections 77 and 77.

The other end of said shaft is provided with a gear 78that drives the frontend of the fe'eder through a Bowden wire 7 9"and gears 80 and 'mounted on the -lower end of a short vertical shaft which projects throu h a gear casing 50 that is pinned to sha t 50 by a pin 50. This gear casing 50 is provided with a 'l suitable cover plate (not shown) and also with an extended portion 51 (Fig. 4) that proj ectsinto a bracket 52- and which normally rests on' a' shoulder 53` on said casing. The bracket 52 is secured tothe feeder frame, and bolted to said bracket 52 is a bracket. 55 in which a short transverse shaft 88 and a cam shaft 91 have bearings.

The upper end of shaft 85 carries a miter gear 86 which meshes'with a miter gear 87 mounted on the short transverse shaftl 88. This shaft 88 carriesan elongated pinion 89 with which meshes a large gear. 90 mounted on the cam shaft 9.1 of the feeder. The cam shaft `91 has also mounted thereon a two-part clutch, one part 92 being keyed on the shaft 91 and the other part 93 being loose thereon, the gear 90 being compounded with the part 93. l The clutch is adapted to be opened manually, or by the operation'of calipering mechanismsuch as disclosed in copending application Serial No. 158,771,1iled January 3, 1927, to disconnect the driving mechanism of the feeder. The drive ofthe mechanism at the i 92, which gear teeth mesh with an elongated pinion 95 mounted on a short stub shaft 96, with which, pinion there is compounded a bevel gear 97 that meshes with a bevel gear 98 carried by one end of a Bowden wire 99.

The other end of this Bowden wire carries a pinion 100 that meshes' with a gear 101 .carried by a shaft 102 on which is mounted the separator mechanism of the feeder, as hereinafter described.

The clutch member 92 is sprin pressed ,toward the right by a spring 103 t vat tends l normally to hold said member in clutched relation with its companion member 93.Y This spring encircles the cam shaft 91. Adjacent said spring and carried by the shaft 91 is a vgear 104. `This gear meshes 'with' a'v gear 105 carried in a casing 106, which casing enclose's the valves that control the distribution of air to the separator, forwarder and air blast, asY

disclosed in copending application Serial No. 158,769, filed January 3, 1927.

Adjacent gear 104 1s a gear 107 that meshes with a pinion 108 carried by a shaft 109,

which stub shaft also carries a gear 110 that meshes with a pinion-111 carried by a shaft 112. The shaft 112 carries the feed roller 113 around which the conveyor tapes 113 pass that deliver the sheets from the feeder to the instrumentality fed thereby. Compounded with `gear 107 is an internal cam 114 in which automatically, all of the feeder mechanism, including-the separator, forwarderand the means for driving the ,air valves will be disconnected.

`Sheet separating mechanism: Figs. land The mechanism for separating successive sheets from the pile may be of any suitable or desiredA character so long as it will Ietliciently and surely separate the sheets in order that the same may be fed forward to the printing press or other instrumentality. Itis preferred, however, that the sheet separating mechanism disclosed in Patent No. 1,475,621, dated November 27, 1923, be employed. Dependent uponthe size of the sheets that are to be fed, one or more vof such mechanisms may be utilized. lf tw'o are employed, they are preferably mounted one near eachrcorner of the sheet pile though, if desired, they may be moved closer together, as is preferably the case when cardboard is being fed. As here shown, the separating mechanism or 'mechanismsis or are mounted on a transverse rod or tube 122 which is carried by two longitudinally disposed rods, one of which is indicated at 123, the longitudinally disposed rods in turn being carried by the side frames of the feeder. These longitudinal rods may be ad-.

justed lengthwise of the machine at 124 so that the separating devices may be moved nearer to or farther away from the forwarding devices. As disclosed in Patent No. 1,475,621 above referred to, there is preferably employed a rotary. platen 125 which is driven through suitable gearing from shaft 101. Cooperating with this rotary platen is the sheet-straightening means in the form of a combing wheel 126 which is also suitably rotated. The gearing that drives the platen 125 from the shaft 101 may be enclosed in a casing (not shown) which, together with the platen 125 and the combing wheel 126, may be held in yan elevated position out of operative engagement with the sheet pile. This is desirable when thicker cardboard is being fed or when the separation is being effected solely by means of the collapsible sucker 131. i

After the topmost sheet is separated from the pile either by the action of the collapsible sucker 131, or by the cooperative action of the platen 125 and the sheet straightening means or combing wheel 126, air is preferably introduced beneath said topmost sheet through the hollow foot clamp 132 to complete the separation of the sheet.

Sheet forwarder: Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 8 After the sheet is separated from the pile, it is seized along its forward edge by the forwarding device which moves the sheet from the pile onto the conveyor 113. Preferably, there is employed a forwarder of the eneral type disclosed in application Serial No.

599,359, filed November 6,1922, in which there is disclosed a suction mechanism which,

by suitable connections, is lowered into engagement with the top sheet of the pile, then relevated and then reciprocated along a track to deposit the sheet on the feed roller and associated conveyor. As herein shown, a heus-- ing 133 is loosely mounted on 'tube 120 and is provided with arms 134 and 135 in which are carried rollers 136 land 136 that rest upon and are rotated upon the feed rollerl 113, the rollers 136 and 136 being adjustably mounted upon transverse pins 137 and 137 carried by the arms 134 and 135, respectively. The rollers 136 and 136' may be swung away from the feed roller 113 for the purpose of remov-` ing a sheet or for anyother reason. A horizontal track 138 is carried by a bracket 139- keyed or otherwise secured on the transverse frame member 140 adjacent the e'nd 120'of tube 120. This transverse frame member 140 preferably consists of a tube which is fixedly mounted in the side frames of the feeder and projects through the tube 120. The track 138 Vis preferably iXedlysecured so that it has no vertical movement, thoughv insome embodiments it may be found desirable to mount the track 138 or housing 133 so that it may move with the latter.

A carriage 14-1 is reciprocated along track 138 through the arm 121 fixedly secured to the tube 120, the arm 121 being positioned on said tube between the arms 134 and 135. Thel lower end of the arm 121 is connected to a link 142, which link is secured Ato the carriage at 143. An arm 144 integrally connected to link 142 is provided with a cam surface 145y that engages a roller 146 carried by an arm 147 pivoted at v148 on the carriage 141. The free end of arm 147 engages adjusting nuts 149, 149 threaded on a tube 150 that carries sucker mouths 151, 151 of the forwarder. Through the connections described, it will be understood that, as the tube 120 is oscillated back and .forth fromcam 114 as heretofore described, the carriage 141 will be reciprocated along track 138 and simultanet .operations is repeated.

Ala supp ously the sucker mouths 151, 151 will be elevated' and depressed. The particular sequence of operations 1s that, after the uppermost sheet is separated, the sucker mouths 151, 151 are first lowered into engagement i and the rollers 136 and 136 cooperating therewith. The carriage is then reciprocated back toward the sheet pile, the sucker mouths 151, 151 are again lowered into engagement with the top sheet of the pile and the sequence of Automatic control of pile elevating mechamam: Figs. 4', 7 and 8 The pile is automatically elevated so that the uppermost sheet thereof is always presented to the separating mechanism in the desired manner and at the desired place. The pile of sheets indicated at 152 is carried-by ort 153 which is mounted onl a pair of brackets 154, 154 that are connected by cross-rods 155 and 156, said brackets being provided with rollers 157 and 158 that engage th'e uprights 54' and 55 to faclhtate the raising and lowering of the pile 152 and the pile support 153.

A chain 159 is secured at one end to an angle piece 160 mounted on a bracket 161 that is carried bythe cross-rod 53. Thls bracket `161 carries a spool 162 mounted on a driven 'stub shaft 163 on which the other end of said chain is wound. The chain 159 passes around an idler roller 16,4: carried by the cross rod 156. LThe spool 162 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 9) to elevate j the pile, and is rotated in a counter clockwise direction to lower the pile.

The pile may be elevated automatically and may be elevated and lowered manually.

the pile is effected is controlled through a governor arm 165 on the free end of which is mounted a roller 166 that engages the toplnost sheet of the pile.` The other end of the arm 165 is carried by a rod 167 on which it is adjustable angularly and longitudinally by means of a set screw 168. The rod 167 is mounted at one end in the housing 133 of the forwarder mechanism and at the other end in the side frame of the feeder. On the end of the rod adjacent the side frame of the feederis mounted an arm 169, thel free end of which' tends to move upwardly 'through the action of a spring 170,- one end of which spring is connected to the arm 169 and the other end of which is anchored to one arm of a lever 171 pivoted at 172 to the side frame of the feeder. The arm 171 carries an adjustable screw 173 which bears nn the free end of arm 169 so that a fine adua justment of the height of the governor roller vhook normally constitutes a stop to prevent thc elevation of the pile. lVhcn, however, the pile has been lowered a predetermined distance. an arm r control member 176 that passes through the hook 175 and which is normally'held stationary thereby will no rlonger be stopped by the same.

The particular constructlon whereby this is effected embodies a U-shaped casting pivoted on a. stub shaft 177, said casting having two arms` 17 8 and 179. The arm 178 carries in its free end a roller 180 that engages a cam 181 carried on the inner surface of gear 90. This cam may be actuated with respect to the arm l17 8 by means of a pin and 'slot connection 182. Projecting forwardly from the arm 178 is the control member 176 which is provided with a catch 183that normally engages the hook on the control member 176, and said control member is also provided with a cam 184 which engages the hook 175, as will be more fully hereinafter described. A spring 185 encircles a rod 186l which is connected to the control member -17 6 at 176', one end of said spring reacting against a collar 187 on said rod and the other against an eyelet 188 carried in the side frame 189 of the feeder. 'This spring 185 tends to hold the roller 180 in engagement with the cam 181 and to maintain the catch 183 in engagement with the hook 17 5. Further, in View of the fact that the point 17 6 is in a horizontal plane slightly higher than the pivot point 172, the spring 185 acts during the normal operation to depress the far end ofthe lever 171 to periodically elevate the governor roller 166.

one end of a link 190, the ylower end lof which 1s connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 191, loosely pivoted on a pile elevating shaft The means whereby automatic elevation of j. 192, the Other Mm 193 0f Which bell-crank lever carries a pawl 194 that 'is adapted to engage a ratchet 195 fixedly secured to the driving or power shaft 192. Rotation of the shaft 192 in a-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 8, effects an elevation of the pile support 153, by means of the rotation of the spool 162 through a worm 196 engaging a worm wheel 196 fixedly mounted on shaft 163 (Fig. 9).

During the normal operation of the feeder, the cam 181 bears againstthe roller .180 sufficiently to counteract the pressure of the spring 185 to relieve the engagement of the catch 183 with the hook 175, so that if the roller 166 should be lowered the hook l17 5 could disengage itself from the catch 183. in which event the spring 185 would force "the arm 178 and the roller 180 rearwardly so that the latter would follow the cam 181..

Further, in this event, the arm 179 would swmg downwardly, lowering the link 190,

To thefree end of the arm l17 9 is connected yswinging the bell-crank 191 on its pivot 192v and raising the pawl 194 the distance of one- Vratchet tooth. Therefore, as the arm 178 was forced to the left (as seen in Fig. 8) by the cam 181, the shaft 192 would be rotated in a clockwisev direction the distance of one tooth of the ratchet 195, thus elevating the pile support 153 a corresponding distance.

As this elevation of the pile support is efthe spring 185 to remove the governor roller fected, the catch 183 would again be automatically engaged with the hook 175.

It is necessary that the operation of the governor roller 166 in raising and lowering should not interfere with the operation of the forwarding suckers 151, 151 in removing the sheet from the top of the pile. Heretofore, the elevation of the governor roller to obviate this possibility has been effected by la separate cam, to time this action so as not to interfere with thatof the forwarder. This required independent attention and adjustment and additional parts. In the present device, the cam surface 184 on the member 176 has been provided so that, as the "arm 178 -and the control member 176 move backwardly to follow the cam as the governor roller is lowered, the necessary elevation of the governor roller to permit of the removal of the sheet by the forwarder willbe effected by the cam surface 184 engaging the top of the hook 175, thereby, through theconnections described, elevating the roller 166 from the uppermost sheet of the pile.

It 1s pointed out that the two-arm lever pivoted at 172 is so fulcrumed as to be rocked during the normal operation of the device by from the pile. The weight of the roller 166 lowers it onto the pile when the cam 181 forces the roller 180 to the left.

Independent elevation and depression of pile support."Fgs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 As heretofore described, the pile is automatically elevated under the control .of the governor roller 166. It is necessary to lower the support to replenish the pile 'and to raise the pile to the proper feeding position. It is desirable that this be accomplished rapidly and eEectively. Heretofore, in lowering the support, it has been' necessary to disconnect the feeding means, such as the pawl 194 and the ratchet 195. By the present invention means are provided whereby it is unnecessary to disconnect these operative parts at any time; either when the support is being lowered or'when it is being raised. Thissimplies the construction and operation of the device and obviates the danger of any breakgThs end is secured by making the shaft 192separable and preferably in two parts, one part carrying a clutch member 198 and the other part 192 carrying a clutch member 199, which latter is formed integrally ysaid inner ends of the said shaft parts between said sides of the bracket, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The clutch members 198 and 199 have cooperating jaws so that, during the normal automatic operation of the deviceto elevate the support, the shaftfunctions as a one-piece shaft. "When it is desired to lower the support, the part 192 of said shaft is disconnected, preferably by moving it longitudinally to `uncouple the clutch, thereby permitting the part 192' of the shaft to remain stationary. `Under these conditions, rotation of the part 192 of the shaft will operate to rotate the spool 162 in counterclockwise direction to lowcrthe support 153. The uncoupling of the shaft members 192 and 192 is effected by means of a handle 200 or other suitable mechanism that engages the end'of the shaftr192. This handle is provided with a cam groove 201 that engages a pin 202 carried bythe end of the shaft 192.

the initial movement of the handle will, through said cam and pin connection, effects. longitudinal displacement of the shaft 192', thus uncoupling the clutch 198, 199, and the continuedvrotation of said handle will lower the pile support 'as described. Reverse 'rotation of the handle will elevate the pile support, but in this reverse rotationthe ltwo parts of the shaft will turn as a unit, the ratchet simply rotating idly under the pawl. The'end thrust exerted at the worm 196 will y hold the clutch members in engagement even though Xthe pressure is not being exerted against the flat engaging faces of the clutches. It will be understood that the lowering or raisin-g might be effected through suitable power connections in place of the handle 200. A plate 203 against which the rear of the pile of sheets rests, is provided with a transverse strip 204 on which are mounted, by pin and slot connections 205, 205, a pair of plates' 206, 206 which may be vertically adjustable to compensate for dierent heights and sizes of sheets, if desired.

,While one expression of the inventive idea has been heretofore described and illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that the inventive idea may be embodied'in various mechanical expressions within the limits of the appended` claims.

What is claimed is 1. In combination, a governor roller, a pile elevating mechanism, a control member camoperated in one direction and spring-operlfVhen the handle 200 is y -moved in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 9),

ated in the opposite direction, connections between said roller andsaid member, and a cam surface movable with said member and associated with the control member and act-l ing to periodically elevate the governor roller during the lnorme .lfoperatlon of the machine, and a cam carried by the control member. v i

' 4. In combination, a governor roller, pile elevating mechanism, a control member cam 'said roller and member including a lever normally connectedlto said mem operatedin one direction and spring-operated in the opposite direction, connections between pivoted er and adapted to be automatically disconnected therefrom, and a cam carried by said member and adapted to elevate said roller through said connections when said member and lever are disconnected. l

5. In combination, pile elevating mechanism, means for successively forwarding the topmost sheetvfrom the pile, av governor roller adaptedto engage the pile, a control member cam operated in one direction and springoperated in the opposite. direction, connections between said roller and member and a cam carried by said member and adapted to actuate said roller to relieve the pressure thereof on the pile' while the sheet forwarding means is operating during the pile ele-I vating operation. Y p

6. In combination, a governor roller, a pile elevating mechanism, a control member, connections between said roller and said member including a pivoted lever normally connectedto said member and being adjustable with respect to said roller, and a cam carried by said member and adapted to elevate said roller through said connections.

7. In combination, a governor roller, a pile elevating mechanism, a control member, connections between said roller and said member includingv a shaft on which said roller is mounted, an arm carried bysaid shaft, a pivoted lever normally connected to said member and being adjustable with respect to said arm, and a cam carried by said member and adapted to` elevate lsaid roller through said connections.

l8. In a pile elevating mechanism, a frame, a pile support movable therealong, and means for moving the pile support along the frame consisting of a single flexible connection therebetween located centrally of said frame between its opposite sides, and mechanism forv lengthening and shortening said connection.

9. In a-pile elevating mechanism, a frame, a pile support movable therealong, a driven member carried by the frame and located centrally -thereof between its opposite sides, means for driving said member, and a single flexible element passing around a part of said pile support located in substantially vertical alinement with the driven member, said flexible element having one end connected with said frame and its opposite end connected with said driven member.

10. In a. pile elevating mechanism, a frame,

a pile support movable therealong, a power shaft anda stub shaft both carried by the frame centrally of the opposite sides thereof and extending transversely of each other,

'driving connections between said shafts, a

s ool mounted on the stubshaft, and a single c ain or vthe vlike passing around a part of said pile support located in substantially vertical alinement with said driving connections, said chain having one end connected with said frame and its opposite end connected with said spool.'

11. In a pile elevating mechanism, a frame, 7

a pile support movable therealong, a driven member mounted on the frame centrally between the opposite sides thereof, means for driving said member, an idler member mounted on said pile support in substantially ico vertical alinement with the driven member,

vthe otxer end anchored to said frame at a point above said idler roller.

13.' In a'pile elevating mechanism, a frame, a pile support movable therealong, a bracket or the like carried on the frame centrally vbetween the opposite sides thereof, a driving shaft and a driven shaft extending transversely of each otherv and both having bearings on said bracket, gearing interposed between said shafts and operatively connecting them together, a spool mounted on the drlven shaft, an idler member mounted'on said pile `support below the spool and in substantially vertical alinement therewith, and a single chain or the like passing around the idler member and having one end consupport a rection nected with the spool and the other end anchored at a point above said idler member. 14. In a pile feeding mechanism, a frame, a sheet support movable t-herealong, two alined normally connected shaft parts for moving the sheet support and having separate bearings on and located centrally between opposite sides of said frame respec-` tively, means for'rotating both of the shaft parts as a unit to move the sheet support along the frame in one direction, and means for separating said shaft parts including-an element adapted to rotate one shaft part only to move said sheet support along the frame in the opposite direction.

15. In a pile elevating mechanism, a frame,

a pile support movable vertically therealong,

two alined normally connected shaft parts for moving the pile support and having separate bearings on and located centrally between opposlte sides of said frame respectively, means for rotating the shaft parts as a unit to elevate the pile support, and means for disconnecting vthe shaft parts including an element adapted to rotate one of the same only and lower the pile support.

16.` In a pile elevating mechanism, a frame, I

a pile support movablevertically therealong, bracket-like means supported on and located centrally between opposite sides of the frame, two alined normally connected shaft parts for moving the pile support and having separate bearings on said bracket-like means and the opposite sides of said frame respectively,

means for rotating the shaft parts as a unit in one direction to elevate the pile support,

and means for disconnecting the'shaft parts including an element for rotating one of the the'i frame and providing separate bearings for the inner opposed ends of said shaft, 'cooperating clutch elements arranged between opposite sides of said bracket and secured.

move the sheet support along the frame inI the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof said executor, by its president, has signed this specification.

[L.s.] FIRST NATIONAL 'BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, By CHRISTOPHER BARGFREDE,

President, Eecutor of the Estate of Carl E. Christopher,

Deceased.

same only in the opposite direction to lower the pile support.

. 17. In a pile feeding mechanism, a frame, a sheet vsupport movable therealong, bracket-like means supported on and located centrally between lopposite sides of the frame, two alined normally connected shaft parts rfor noving the sheet support and having separate bearings on said bracket-like means and the opposite sides of said frame respectively, automatically operated means for rot-ating both of said shaft parts as a unit to move the sheet support along the frame in one direction, and manually operated means for rotating the shaft parts as a unit to move the sheet support along the frame in said direction, sai manually operated means being adapted to disconnect the shaftparts and'l rotate onlyV one of the same to move the sheet ng' the frame in the opposite di- 18. In a pile feeding mechanism, a frame, a sheet support lmovable therealong, a separable two-part shaft for moving the sheet support and rotatably mounted on opposite si es of the frame a bracket supported on and located centrally between said sides of loo 

